UCSB Women Dominate in Home Opener Against Westmont and LMU

The Gaucho women started off their season very strong defeating both Westmont and Loyola Marymount. The Gauchos scored a total of 195 points. Westmont finished second with 73 points and Loyola Marymount finished third with 39 points.

UCSB began the day going 1-2 in the women's high jump. Freshman Christina Nowak started off her career as a Gaucho with a win, jumping 5 feet 3 inches. The women continued to dominate the jumps with a 1-2-3 sweep in the long jump and a 1-2 finish in the triple jump. The pole vault also saw a 1-2 sweep by the Gauchos with Heidi Nyberg jumping 11 feet 5 inches.

After a redshirt season, Amy Haapanen rejoined the Gauchos winning the shot put, discus, and the hammer throw. Haapanen's throw of 206 feet 3 inches broke her own school record by 10 feet. The Gauchos depth in the throws was shown as they took the first six spots in the shot put, the first four spots in the discus, and the first three spots in the hammer throw. In the javelin, Kara Mathews got the win with a throw of 116 feet 8 inches.

In the first track event of the day, UCSB pulled off the win in the 4x100 meter relay in a time of 49.23 seconds. Throughout the entire meet the Gauchos remained successful in the sprints highlighted by Stella Hall's tough double win in the 100 meter hurdles and open 400. Kerry Gamble won both the 100 and 200 while Lauri Schakett won the 400 hurdles in a PR of 62.75. The 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Schakett, Hall, Gamble and Christie Farson finished off the day for the sprints winning in a time of 4:01.90.

Coming off of a 9th place national finish in cross country season, the Gauchos remained strong in the distance portion of the day. Danielle Domenichelli finished 1st in the mile run and 2nd in the 800, with freshman Alyssa Brown starting off her track career as a Gaucho finishing 2nd in the mile and 1st in the 800. The 1-2 finishes from both races show great signs of things to come throughout the season. In the 3000 meter run, Laura Mickelson of Loyola Marymount won in a time of 10:16.64. Christie Farson was the first Gaucho across the line in 3rd place in a time of 10:26.42.

The next meet for the Gauchos is the All-Cal Cup at UC Irvine on March 3rd.